A major cost for cow-calf producers is obtaining an adequate supply of acceptable heifers for replacements in the herd. Although most producers raise their own, purchasing replacements sometimes can be an attractive alternative.

Selecting the most economical source of replacement heifers has major implications for effectively using resources, controlling costs, and sustaining business vitality.

Determining an optimal herd replacement strategy is a complex decision driven by several factors including:

Considering these factors can determine the difference between profit and loss in any given year. So it's imperative that producers be flexible and capable of modifying herd replacement strategies as needed to take advantage of changing conditions.

To assist producers in determining which management strategy is best in any given year, we have developed a factsheet and two decision support calculators. These calculators are Excel spreadsheets that can be downloaded and used on any computer with the Microsoft Excel program.